Chapter Text
‘So where were you?’ Will demanded. He was wearing a green surgeon’s shirt with jeans and flip-flops, which was probably not standard hospital protocol.
‘What do you mean?’ Nico asked.
‘I’ve been stuck in the infirmary for, like, two days. You don’t come by. You don’t offer to help.’
‘I … what? Why would you want a son of Hades in the same room with people you’re trying to heal? Why would anyone want that?’
‘You can’t help out a friend? Maybe cut bandages? Bring me a soda or a snack? Or just a simple How’s it going, Will? You don’t think I could stand to see a friendly face?’
‘What … my face?’The words simply didn’t make sense together: Friendly face. Nico di Angelo.
‘You’re so dense,’ Will noted. ‘I hope you got over that nonsense about leaving Camp Half-Blood.’
‘I – yeah. I did. I mean, I’m staying.’
‘Good. So you may be dense, but you’re not an idiot.’
‘How can you even talk to me like that? Don’t you know I can summon zombies and skeletons and –’
‘Right now you couldn’t summon a wishbone without melting into a puddle of darkness, di Angelo,’ Will said. ‘I told you, no more Underworldy stuff, doctor’s orders. You owe me at least three days of rest in the infirmary. Starting now.’
Nico felt like a hundred skeletal butterflies were resurrecting in his stomach. ‘Three days? I – I suppose that would be okay.’
‘Good. Now –’
A loud whoop! cut through the air.
Over by the hearth in the centre of the common, Percy was grinning at something Annabeth had just told him. Annabeth laughed and playfully slapped his arm.
‘I’ll be right back,’ Nico told Will. ‘Promise on the Styx and everything.’
He walked over to Percy and Annabeth, who were both still grinning like crazy.
‘Hey, man,’ Percy said. ‘Annabeth just told me some good news. Sorry if I got a little loud.’
‘We’re going to spend our senior year together,’ Annabeth explained, ‘here in New York. And after graduation –’
‘College in New Rome!’ Percy pumped his fist like he was blowing a truck horn. ‘Four years with no monsters to fight, no battles, no stupid prophecies. Just me and Annabeth, getting our degrees, hanging out at cafés, enjoying California –’
‘And after that …’ Annabeth kissed Percy on the cheek.
‘Well, Reyna and Frank said we could live in New Rome as long as we like.’
‘That’s great,’ Nico said. He was a little surprised to find that he meant it. ‘I’m staying too, here at Camp Half-Blood.’
‘Awesome!’ Percy said.
Nico studied his face – his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on.
‘So,’ Nico said, ‘since we’re going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp, I think I should clear the air.’
Percy’s smile wavered. ‘What do you mean?’
‘For a long time,’ Nico said, ‘I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.’
Percy looked at Nico. Then at Annabeth, as if to check that he’d heard correctly. Then back at Nico. ‘You –’
‘Yeah,’ Nico said. ‘You’re a great person. But I’m over that. I’m happy for you guys.’
‘You … so you mean –’
‘Right.’
Annabeth’s grey eyes started to sparkle. She gave Nico a sideways smile.
‘Wait,’ Percy said. ‘So you mean –’
‘Right,’ Nico said again. ‘But it’s cool. We’re cool. I mean, I see now … you’re cute, but you’re not my type.’
‘I’m not your type … Wait. So –’
‘See you around, Percy,’ Nico said. ‘Annabeth.’
She raised her hand for a high five. Nico obliged. Then he walked back across the green, to where Will Solace was waiting.
As he got to where Will was standing, Nico felt the pride burn in his chest. Maybe Jason was right, things are different now.
Will snapped him out of his thoughts, a confused look replacing the anger that was on his face. He was looking just above and past Nico’s head, “What did you tell Percy?”
Nico turned his head around and glanced back. Of course, Percy Jackson had his brows furrowed, hiding his despair between his hands. Nico swore he could hear a faint “What does he mean I’m not his type! I’m everybody’s type!” Nico bit back a laugh. Breaking his guard and laughing would shatter his edgy reputation, and Nico couldn’t afford that. Not now since he had those three days of debt and labor left.
Nico looked back at Will, trying to stay stoic as ever, “Nothing important. Let’s just get this whole infirmary thing over with,” he rolled his eyes.
Will put a hand to his chest, fake and dramatized pain expressed by the hand over his eyes, “You wound me di Angelo,”
“It’s what I do best,” Nico bit back another smile as Will led him to the infirmary.
It wasn’t that long of a walk to the infirmary. Or, as Nico thought of it, the Apollo Cabin 2.0. Okay, that was a bit cringey, but just look at it. The infirmary was like a larger Apollo cabin with its light yellow walls basically radiating like it was its own mini Sun. It was literally shaped like a dome too! In the main circular area, there was a conversation pit adorned by campers in various poses on the—you guessed it—light yellow couches. To Nico, they seemed like cats sprawled out in the sunlight that the glass ceiling provided. The walls of the dome-shape-infirmary had doors spaced out between them, leading to many “hospital rooms” if you could call them that. Nico almost thought this was a cabin if it weren’t for the Apollo campers frantically running around with various medical supplies in their hands like bees.
“The campers who don’t need much attention stay in the main area, so don’t be fooled. Paolo over there almost lost a leg in the war. It’s been really hectic here,” Will pointed at one of the doors along the curved wall. Nico would never admit it, but he felt inklings of guilt in his stomach for not checking on Will or helping him out. This would have been hell to work in with all the chaos.
“If it helps, I don’t feel much death here,” Nico offered.
Will turned to look at him, a small smile growing on his face with an emotion Nico could not name, “Thanks,” he said softly, looking back at the infirmary.
Just then, one girl in particular with shocks of green in her red hair was juggling pill bottles of all sorts rushed to Will, “Will! There you are! We almost thought you ditched us,” her eyes moved onto Nico, “You can take Nico over there. I think that’s the only empty room, but I don’t know,” she pointed to another door along one of the walls.
Nico thought about how that girl barely cared when she saw him. Did nobody in this camp think he was edgy or creepy anymore? Maybe Will was right about the whole friendly face thing.
“Thanks Kayla,” Will smiled at her, his eyes turning to crescents as his teeth flashed everybody in view and heating the room up at least 5 degrees. Nico had to consciously stop a grumble from escaping him. It was unfair how Will could probably heal somebody with a smile like that while death would not stop following Nico. Will turned to Nico, “Come on,” he grabbed Nico’s frail wrist, the warmth flooding Nico from that single touch. Of course, Nico flinched and yanked his arm away.
“Don’t touch me.” He scowled at Will. No way he was jealous of Solace. He was supposed to be against Will, but he found that that was harder and harder to do. Ugh, it was so annoying how the light had always managed to form a halo on Will's bright blonde hair.
Will raised his hands in a surrender kind of motion, “Whatever you say, Death Boy,” He then turned around and walked to the room.
“Don’t call me that either,” Nico growled, “Once I get out of here, you’re dead.”
“That is no way to treat your doctor now is it?” Will asked, opening the door to the room. “Welcome to your new home for the next three or so days,” he gestured to the bed.
“Or so?” Nico asked, taking in the room. It wasn’t much different than the outside, the same pale yellow walls and wooden floors for the small room. Except here, on the right side was a hospital bed with a chair tucked next to it, toasting in the light from the glass ceiling. On the back wall’s left part was a door, probably the bathroom. On the left were shelves with a million different gadgets on them and a table right below. Finishing it off, the floor had a light blue carpet with little suns on them. If this didn’t scream Apollo, Nico didn’t know what could.
“I recall I said AT LEAST three days, didn’t I?” Will raised a brow, a smug smirk growing on his face. Nico wanted to slap it off.
“You think you’re so slick, don’t you?” Nico narrowed his eyes.
“I do, in fact,” Will smirked wider, starting to crinkle the freckles on his nose. He grabbed a clipboard off the shelf and sat down on the chair next to the hospital bed. “Sit down, I have to ask you a few questions. Standard procedure,” he gestured to the bed.
Nico reluctantly sat down. He hated feeling this weak and he certainly wasn’t in the mood to explain his complex medical history to Will. Plus, it didn’t help that the window’s sunshine enhanced the sharpness of Will's straight nose, jaw, neck, uh oh. Nico stopped himself before his eyes trailed down more. He looked so alive while Nico was practically rotting as they spoke; so unfair!
“Okay,” Will grabbed a pen and clicked it. “Nico di Angelo. Is that how I spell it?” He held up the clipboard, showing his messy doctor handwriting that Nico had trouble reading, not just because of dyslexia.
“Yeah.”
Date of Birth?”
Nico held back a sigh, “January 28th 1927.”
Will’s eyes widened like saucers, “1927?!”
“Yeah,” Nico deadpanned. “It’s this whole thing with the Lotus Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and it’s time stuff and blah blah blah. You can just write 14 for my age though.”
“Alright.” Will put a neutral expression back on, the good medic he is. “Hades is your father,” Will talked to himself as he wrote it down. “What powers do you have and how much did you use them in the past 48 hours?”
Nico looked up in thought, “I can control skeletons, ghosts, etc. I can shadow travel. I can sense when people die. The list kind of goes on, it’s just underworld stuff. And for using them…” Nico pursed his lips, mentally counting in his head.
“I’m just going to write too much for your own good,” Will said, being the stubborn son of Apollo he is. “You’re pretty powerful though huh? Only if you took care of yourself…” He didn’t finish his sentence as his eyes travelled to the bathroom door. “Let’s get your height and weight.”
Nico nodded, a faint blush sprawling across his cheeks. He wasn’t used to being called powerful. He used his bad arm to stand up and lost his balance, but didn’t completely trip. He hoped Will didn’t see. It still stung a bit, obviously, but he was used to it at this point. He got up and followed Will out the door on the left of his bed and headed into an even smaller room.
“This is probably the bathroom,” Nico thought. He took it in, the small countertop with the wall length mirror on one side and the toilet and shower on the other. It was varying shades of blue this time, which was a pleasant surprise. On the countertop next to the sink he saw clothes, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, etc. On the floor, he saw a scale.
“This is all the stuff the infirmary can give you. Care to explain the tropical shirt though?” Will chuckled, making Nico feel a bit self-conscious but also kick starting the skeletal butterflies in his stomach. Ugh, even his laugh was melodic. He’s so Apollo.
“Not a word.” Nico looked at the clothes on the counter. “Thanks for the black clothes though. How did you know I liked black?”
“You always wear it, duh. Plus, it makes your eyes pop,” Will winked as the tips of Nico’s ears turned bright red. Will was actually so annoying. “Hop on the scale for me.”
It’s been decades since he’s seen his own weight, and Nico had no interest. Still, he’s been through Tartarus. He could handle seeing his weight. Nico hesitantly stepped on.
The scale flipped through numbers, finally landing on the chosen one. 105.8 pounds.
Nico glanced at Will, somebody obviously healthy and not used to this. And…Nico was right. Will’s eyes doubled in size again momentarily before returning back to his doctor face, except his hands gripped the clipboard a little tighter. “When’s the last time you had an actual meal? What about water intake? Will asked with suspicion, scribbling furiously on his clipboard.
“Uhm…” Nico hated feeling so fragile.
“So not in a long time, huh? And not much water?”
“I don’t exactly have time for a sit down restaurant during quests, okay?” He retorted, then realized he probably came out too harsh. Will was just trying to help, no matter how annoying he is. “I eat ambrosia and fast food sometimes. I just don’t feel hungry anymore though,” His tone softened and he looked down. He decided he hated being fragile, and he really hated doctors.
Will looked down at him with pinched brows, “Well, we can work on that.”
But Nico knew better, it wouldn’t be so easy.
“Okay, height isn’t that important. I don't know if you want to walk all the way to check your height in front of everybody, so I'll just eyeball it and write it down. You were about Kayla's height, so 5'6?" Will looked at Nico in thought which made Nico feel like a lab rat. “I’m 6’0 by the way,” Will smirked stupidly, trying to lighten the mood.
Nico couldn’t help it, he let out a small snicker. Will looked so stupid right there. So much for reputation. He rolled his eyes and smiled a small smile, “Whatever you say,” he didn’t want the son of Apollo to be too think he opened Nico up fully from just one chuckle.
Will faked his offended look again, “Honest!” He looked at Nico and then the shower, “You can shower once I leave, I just need to check something. Let’s head to the room again,” Will opened the door for Nico. “After you.”
The tips of Nico’s ears turned red again. “Dork,” he muttered under his breath.
Nico returned to the room and sat on his bed next to the pillows. Will grabbed a few gadgets off of the shelf and sat down with him on the other side of the bed, “Okay, now we need to do heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, you know the drill.” Will put on a stethoscope, slick and modern compared to the ones in the ‘30s. “Is it okay if I touch you?”
“No.” Nico deadpanned. Screw the whole respect for your doctor thing, he barely knew Will. Sure, he didn't really care much anymore since he knew Will needed to be able to touch him to do his job, but Nico could bug him back, right?
Will’s eyes focused on him, soft like he was about to cry, “Come on Death Boy, I need to in order to check your vitals.”
“Don’t call me Death Boy,” Nico looked down, “and I was just joking.” Was Will really that stupid? Or was Nico just horrible at jokes? Whatever, he just hated it when Will gave him that look.
“Too late, Death Boy stuck already,” Will went back to normal again, quickly, “Okay, turn to me.” Will used up a bunch of his gadgets and then scribbled some things down on the clipboard and then used his gadgets again. Nico really disliked being touched so much by Will, but he was more used to the warmth Will brought now. He could survive it, right? Plus, his envy kept growing as he gazed at Will's focused, furrowed brows and how his tongue stuck out a bit when he stopped to think. Finally, Will started cleaning up. “There, all done. You can go shower now and then rest. If you need anything, don’t be afraid to call for me,” Will patted Nico’s knee like a project well done as he left, but Nico just tensed up from that. He couldn't decide when he was "used" to Will's touch and when it was unwelcome.
Nico looked around as the door shut, this was the first time he’d actually had time to think in god knows how long. He didn’t like it. Memories flooded his mind, like those of the pomegranate seeds and the jar, the fear that shook him when he was almost transparent from shadow-traveling, the glass ground in Tartarus.
He hurried to the bathroom, locking the door behind him and turning on the shower. He quickly undressed, eager to get the tropical shirt off, and hobbled in. As the scorching water hit him, he winced as it reached his wolf marks. He wanted to hide it from Will as long as he could because Nico desperately wanted to look strong. However, every battle has casualties. He realized just how long it's been since he had a shower like this. He’d almost forgotten how to shower. He squirted the body wash onto his hands, the smell of citrus filling the air. Ugh, Apollo kids. He started scrubbing his pale skin red. Anything to get rid of the smell of death, the memories, his impurity. Once he was red and raw, he moved on, doing the same to his ink-colored hair with shampoo and conditioner.
Nico grabbed the white towel on the countertop and wrapped it around his waist. He grabbed a smaller one and wrapped it around his hair. Then, he stared at himself in the mirror. His hollow cheeks, his dark circles, his pale skin replacing the olive he used to have. All of them casualties in the war which was his life. His eyes moved down toward his biceps, the wolf marks were practically screaming at him. Under the rushed stitches, they growled an angry violet-red at Nico with their jagged and deep cuts. They would make for cool scars though, huh?
Alas, Nico couldn’t keep staring at his reflection. He used the rest of whatever Will gave him, like deodorant and even went so far as brushing his teeth before he slipped into his clothes. A plain black hoodie with matching black sweatpants which were a little big on him, but he preferred it that way. They smelled like clean laundry and the hood sat just right, revealing his sharp collarbones as he stared at himself in the mirror. Nico tugged through his hair while gazing into the mirror. His hair was usually like a shaggy modern mullet and a male wolf cut mixed together and had a baby. It suited Nico’s features though, even if it were cut by his sword. However, Nico was kind of upset that it was damp right now since he preferred his hair to be fluffy. Not that he would ever admit that, of course. However, the prominent dark circles under his eyes kept yelling that he really needed sleep, so he headed out and slipped into the hospital bed’s sheets, passing out instantly as he basked in the evening light.